Henry Wriothesley

Henry Wriothesly 3rd Earl of Southampton lived with his family in Horatio Palavicino's house (The Manor) in Little Shelford between 1603 and 1615.

Here he found a retreat after his release from the Tower of London on the accession of James 1st. He has been imprisoned for his part in the Essex Rebellion against Queen Elizabeth and he was lucky to have escaped with his head.

He was a cultured man who was the patron of William Shakespeare. He was also a benefactor of St John's College, cambridge, where he left hisbooks and illuminated manuscripts. He presented the tenor bell to Little Shelford Church; it is inscribed "Ricardus Hitchfield ne fecit.Henry Wryeste, Earl of Southampton 1612."